Once again, it's time to give your prized possession a final scrub, hose and wipe-down before parting ways with it for the winter break. With the right supplies, prepping your boat can be a breeze and will keep your boat in mint condition until it's time to return to the water. To help jumpstart the winterizing process, here are some cleaning and maintenance products that get multiple jobs done in one sweep.

Color Enhancer

To make old boats look like new and new boats look even newer, 3M offers its Color/Gloss Restorer ($17.99 to $19.99, www.3m.com). This liquid compound removes dullness and oxidation to bring the boat back to its original luster and color. One application clears away blemishes, scratches, stains and fine marks. Easily apply the restorer by hand or with a buffer, and watch your boat outshine the rest.

Engine Cleaner

Make sure to add the outboard and sterndrive to your list of winterizing duties. Get through this step quickly with West Marine's Engine Winterizing Kit ($44.99, www.westmarine.com). The kit includes a 5-gallon jug with a valve and hose fittings. Once you add the flusher, garden hose and 5 gallons of non-toxic antifreeze, the engine is ready for a good cleaning. Since the kit is reusable, it's one less item to have to restock each year.




Antifouling Products

Boaters can get better fuel efficiency out of rigid inflatables by applying Pettit Marine Paints' Prop-Koat 6005 Clear Primer and 6006 Clear Topcoat ($300, www.pettitpaint.com). The two components work together to combat dirt, algae and other fouling organisms to give the hull and tubes a smoother and faster ride. Simply spread on the primer and up to three coats of the topcoat. Both simultaneously protect against hard and soft fouling, and also resist saltwater and UV damage, leaving the inflatable with a polished finish. The system even prevents fouling on rudders, shafts, struts, props, outboards, outdrive units and other submerged metals.        


Adhesive Sealants

Tired of repairing and replacing the same parts on board? Seal those loose ends once and for all using West System's G/flex Epoxy ($16.20 to $25.40, www.westsystem.com). G/flex comes in either a liquid or pre-thickened adhesive that's durable yet flexible. This epoxy is good for repairs on aluminum boats or ABS and polyethylene watercraft. In four to six hours, it cures to a solid and can even hold up underwater.



Odor-Control Bags

Don't let foul odors take refuge on your boat during the winter season and then have you spending days trying to get rid of them. Go ahead and stick a few Star brite Mildew Odor Control Bags ($10 for two bags and two holders, www.starbrite.com) in areas on board like lockers, heads, galleys, bilges and cuddy cabins to eliminate mildew and moldy smells. The formaldehyde-free bags fit inside a provided birdcage box, which can either hang from the ceiling or sit on a table so you can have a garden-fresh boat yearlong without lifting a finger.


Multi-Bit Screwdriver

Have all the necessary tools for boating-related odd jobs in the palm of your hand with LoggerHead Tools' The Bit Dr. Screwdriver ($24.95, www.loggerheadtools.com). This 21-piece driver set is 4 inches long when folded and features three length adjustments, six driving positions to easily squeeze into tight spaces, fingertip control, and a ratcheting function. There are 10 double-sided, corrosion-resistant bits, which are stored in a removable bit cartridge that functions as the padded rubber handle. There's also a magnetized bit driver for the bits to fit in, and it includes driver heads such as the hex, star, square, Phillips and slotted.




Cleaning Cloth

Instead of using the closest thing around - the deck floor or a shirt - to absorb stains or wipe up spills on board, have Argee Corp.'s Le Towelé Retractable Towel ($12.99, www.argeecorp.com) handy. It's a microfiber towel with a retractable cord that draws back to either a clip-on waistband device or to   a one-size-fits-all Velcro belt. There's no more searching for something lying around to clean up messes, and once the towel gets too dirty, it simply detaches to be machine-washed.



Stain And Mark Removers

If you really want your boat to sparkle, a combination of Meguiar's marine cleaning products might do the trick. The Metal Polish ($14.99, www.meguiars.com) leaves metal surfaces clean and smooth, from stainless steel and aluminum to brass and chrome. Because the polish contains anti-corrosive agents, the shine locks in  and protects against damage. To give the boat's color a boost, Quik Clean ($13.49) makes the paint and gelcoat glisten again with a couple of sprays. Quik Clean instantly removes salt spray, freshwater spots, exhaust scum and mineral deposits to leave a glossy finish. Jobs that require more elbow grease can be knocked out with the Non-Skid Deck Cleaner ($20.99), which gets rid of stains, black streaks, grease, oily films and dirt. If black streaks are always attracted to your boat's hull, the Black Streak Remover ($17.49) will handle it with a quick spray and wipe down, and can even remove black streaks from fiberglass, painted and gelcoat surfaces.





Boat Care Equipment

It's hard enough trying to keep up with every piece of boating, fishing and watersports equipment on deck, and now it's winterization time, which means you probably have even more equipment for cleaning. Why not have everything to wash, wax, polish and vacuum the boat in one unit? Viaworld's Power SideKick ($129.95, www.powersidekick.com) is an all-in-one system to make cleaning a whole lot easier. Whether you want to vacuum first or wash last, each piece attaches to the cordless, rechargeable battery-powered unit. And since the SideKick is a handheld, you're able to conveniently switch out parts while working around the boat.


Corrosion Protectant

Rust is often lurking about on outdrives, hooks, tackle, boat  trailers, boat rigging - you name it - but now you can use B'laster's Corrosion Stop ($5.50, www.blasterproducts.com) to prevent it. A water-resistant rust inhibitor, Corrosion Stop fights damaging agents like salty water and environmental chemicals that may encourage corrosion and rust on metal parts. The solution creates a protective film to resist water, remove moisture and stop further corrosion. It comes in an 11-ounce aerosol can to conveniently store on board.